Farmers in four communities in the Ahafo Region say delays in the payment of compensation for lands and properties acquired for Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd’s Ahafo North mining project have plunged their families into hardship, leaving many without their main sources of livelihood.
The farmers, from Afrispakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa in the Tano North Municipality, say they have lost farms, crops and other properties taken over for the mining project but are yet to receive compensation, in some cases nearly three years after the government acquired the land.
They say the prolonged delay has made it difficult for affected families to meet basic needs, including food, healthcare and other household expenses. Some members of the association have died or fallen seriously ill while awaiting payment, it said in a press statement.
The farmers are also demanding the resolution of a dispute over compensation for structures on lands acquired in 2024, following a petition by Newmont challenging payments for properties belonging to 21 farmers, which the company reportedly described as “speculative”.
The dispute concerns two compulsory land acquisitions under Executive Instruments (E.I.) 356 of 2023 and E.I. 273 of 2024, through which the government acquired selected lands for Newmont’s Ahafo North mining operations.
The first acquisition was issued on September 29, 2023, while the second followed on July 15, 2024. The farmers say properties on lands covered by the first acquisition were destroyed when the state took possession in December 2023, without adequate opportunity for occupants to retrieve their belongings.
Addressing a press conference at Terchire, John Mensah, Chairman of the Farmers said for the second acquisition, a joint exercise involving Newmont, affected farmers and the Lands Commission identified and recorded crops and structures eligible for compensation.
The Lands Commission’s Valuation Technical Committee approved compensation amounts for lands, crops and structures under E.I. 273 in a letter dated April 13, 2026. The farmers say their lawyers and valuers accepted the amounts on their behalf on April 24.
However, the association said payment remained outstanding after Newmont petitioned the Lands Commission on June 9, 2026, challenging compensation for structures belonging to 21 members.
Newmont reportedly based its objection on provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act and a 2017 cut-off date, arguing that the structures were speculative. The farmers reject the claim, arguing that the acquisition was conducted under the Land Act, 2020, which they say does not recognise the mining-related cut-off date cited by the company.
They also maintain that Newmont representatives signed the joint enumeration records confirming the existence of the structures during the 2024 assessment exercise.
The farmers said Newmont had earlier sought government intervention in the dispute over compensation, prompting the establishment of a ministerial committee comprising traditional leaders, state institutions, lawyers for the farmers and company representatives.
They alleged that although the committee facilitated the joint assessment of properties, Newmont did not make itself available for subsequent compensation negotiations before the government proceeded with the second compulsory acquisition.
For farmers affected by E.I. 356, the situation remains unresolved, with the association saying they have received no compensation since their properties were taken in December 2023.
The association is urging the Lands Commission to independently resolve the outstanding issues, honour the compensation assessment under E.I. 273 and expedite payment to those affected by the 2023 acquisition.
It has also called for a written explanation of outstanding matters and a definite payment timetable.
The farmers argue that while Newmont is benefiting from the acquired lands, affected households continue to bear the economic cost of losing their farms and properties without compensation.
